§ 12. Mr. P. Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Health the number of domiciliary confinements attended by midwives in the Wolverhampton County Borough during 1950 and the number of cases in which gas and air analgesia was administered; and whether he will take steps to ensure that more than five gas and air machines are made available in this county borough.
§ Mr. MarquandThe numbers are respectively 1,485 and 473. I am looking into the question of the number of gas and air machines provided.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftWould the right hon. Gentleman agree that for only 473 mothers to have this assistance, out of a total of 1,485, is not a very good record for a great county borough? Will he ask Wolverhampton to see whether they cannot do a little bit better in this matter?
§ Mr. MarquandThe percentage is lower than the national average percentage, and, as I have said, I am looking into the reasons for that.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many of the people who advise him on this subject have ever had a baby themselves?
§ Dr. StrossCould my right hon. Friend tell the House whether he has any information from this area as to other and alternative methods of anæsthesia that are now used? Does he agree that gas and air machines are not necessarily the best types?
§ Mr. MarquandI should like to have notice of both those questions.
§ 13. Mr. P. Thorneycroftasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the fact that in Burtonon-Trent only 5 per cent. of the women attended in domiciliary confinements by midwives in the public service during 1950 had gas and air analgesia administered to them; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to the factors which have led to this state of affairs.
§ Mr. MarquandYes, Sir; and I am looking into the matter.
§ Mr. ThorneycroftWill the Minister also look back over the record of Burton-on-Trent, which has always been one of the worst in the matter of administering analgesia? Will he bear in mind the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman behind him that he should inquire whether pethidine or any other form is being used, and report on both these cases within the next month?
§ Mr. MarquandI am arranging for a special inquiry to be made immediately.